BIMM Music Institute in Dublin is involved in an industrial dispute with staff over restructure plans. The college delivers a course to students on behalf of TU Dublin.
A dispute with staff started last month when BIMM told lecturers a proposed restructure put 53 jobs at risk. This plan included the creation of some new roles which workers complained would have seen their pay halved.
There was some progress in talks last week aimed at resolving the dispute, although staff picket the college yesterday during a third day of strike action.
Two more days of industrial action are scheduled for this week. Their action has been supported by former BIMM students Fontaines DC.
BIMM said recent discussions with staff were productive and mean no roles will be made compulsorily redundant.
A spokeswoman for the college said 20 lecturers will be offered permanent, salaried positions. Discussions on terms associated with these positions are ongoing.
Another 33 lecturers will be offered an opportunity to remain on their current contracts with the same terms and conditions, the spokeswoman added.
BIMM chief executive and vice-chancellor David Jones-Owen said the college will continue discussions with staff this week.
The Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) assistant general secretary Robert McNamara and staff representative Joe Wall said they are hopeful these discussions will resolve the dispute.
Fontaines DC. Photo: Getty
“Some issues remain to be resolved, such as the rates of pay for the new senior lecturer roles. We expect further engagement this week,” Mr McNamara said.
IFUT represents several staff involved in the dispute and met with officials at TU Dublin last week to discuss it.
While BIMM is a private college and operates independently, its Commercial Modern Music course is outsourced to the college by TU Dublin.
A spokeswoman for TU Dublin said it was not given advance notice of BIMM’s restructure plans, and while the university understands recent talks have led to progress, it expects BIMM to engage the Workplace Relations Commission to resolve the dispute.
“In response to these developments, the university’s new president, Dr Deirdre Lillis, has requested a comprehensive report on TU Dublin’s arrangements with BIMM, which was established before her tenure,” the TU Dublin spokeswoman added.
“TU Dublin leaders have held a constructive meeting with IFUT, reaffirming TU Dublin’s commitment to fair employment standards.”
